Tuesday 10 May 2011

PPN Avocado Pasta

Every now and again I find an avocado in our fruit bowl that is fast approaching the time when it is only good for the compost bin. I am always on the lookout for quick and easy ideas. Avocado as pasta sauce seems a crazy idea but it works. I found out when last week's avocado threatened to ruin. It was a night when I had no energy. I tipped a handful of spaghetti in the pot, added a bit of seasoning and we had dinner on the table before we knew it.

The hot pasta warms the cool avocado but you do need the extra seasoning of the lemon juice, garlic, salt and pepper. I think the suggest basil would also work well. The recipe came from Oh She Glows where Ange obviously has a more powerful food processor than me. My garlic didn't really blend so next time I will use the garlic crusher. I even ended up stirring the sauce with a spoon to get rid of a few lumps.

I first saw this recipe on Bake Bike Blog where Lisa added some asparagus to the mix. I had a bit of leftover vegie haggis on hand so I scattered it on top. The avocado pasta is quite a heavy meal without additional veg or salad. I quite enjoyed it with haggis but in future I would try it with some tomatoes and cucumbers on the side for a really quick meal.

I am sending this to Jacqueline of Tinned Tomatoes who is hosting Presto Pasta Nights #213 this week. The event brings together some of the wonderful pasta dishes in the blogosphere each week and was founded by Ruth of Once Upon a Feast. (And stay tuned for my own round up of my Neb at Nut Roast event - coming soon.)

Previously on Green Gourmet Giraffe:
This time last year: Treacle Scones for Remembrance
This time two years ago: PPN Cavolo Nero and Chickpea Pasta
This time three years ago: Meandering Musings on Split Pea Soup
This time four years ago: Pickled sprouts and vegan cheese doubts

Avocado pasta
adapted from Oh She Glows via Bake Bike Blog
  • enough spaghetti for 2 people (Ange suggests 6 oz)
  • 1 avocado - needs to be ripe
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1-3 cloves of garlic, crushed (I used 1 clove)
  • juice of 1/2 medium lemon
  • 1/4 tsp fine grain salt
  • black pepper
  • handful of basil if you have it (I didn't)
  • lemon zest, to garnish
Cook the spaghetti according to the directions on the packet - about 10 minutes in salted boiling water. While the pasta is cooking, blend the oil, garlic and lemon juice in a food processor and then add avocado (and basil if using). Continue to blitz until smooth or, if your food processor is like mine and leave a few lumps, give it a quick stir with a spoon at the end. Add salt and pepper to taste. Check seasoning and adjust as necessary (I think I could have done with a bit more lemon juice). When pasta is cooked, drain and stir the avocado sauce through. Serve with salad or steamed vegetables or vegie haggis if you have it.

On the Stereo:
Still: Joy Division

20 comments:

  1. Now that is super quick and easy! The Monkeys adore avocado so I'll have to remember this.

    ReplyDelete
  2. You just reminded me that I need to make this again soon!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I need to try this, I really do. I'm still a bit on the fence about avocado but I love the idea of creaminess. I think I'd just make sure to add a lot of zesty lemon, and probably some tabasco too :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. I don't actually like plain avocado, but have made this OSG pasta and enjoyed it :) Amazingly quick and so few ingredients for what the end product is.

    ReplyDelete
  5. These avocado pasta sound amazing! I had no idea that avocado could be used warm, must be delicious: very smooth and creamy; and I love this pretty green colour :-)

    ReplyDelete
  6. This is an awesome ideal Johanna! Thank you for sharing this with us.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Creamy avocado as a sauce - liking it and left over crispy haggis as topping, liking it even more.

    Looking forward to the Nutroast Round UP!

    ReplyDelete
  8. That sounds sooooo good. I love avocados and so wish we could grow them here. I can imagine it working really well with pasta.

    ReplyDelete
  9. We have the very same thing as we tend to buy lots of avocadoes at once and sometimes we just don't get to use them all. What a great recipe for that just occasion! :D

    ReplyDelete
  10. I saw this when Ange posted it and have been wanting to make it ever since! Must be so satisfying with all that good-for-you avocado fat!

    ReplyDelete
  11. wow, I always get such wonderful ideas & inspiration from your cooking, I am going to try this out very soon. Thankyou

    ReplyDelete
  12. This looks amazing. I love avocado, and pasta (who doesn't) but never thought to combine them. Thanks for the inspiration.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Oh and thank you for the entry :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. I am liking the sound of this Johanna. I do so love avocado. Like the look of it with veggie haggis on top too for extra texture. You are imaginative my friend. x

    ReplyDelete
  15. Thanks City Hippy Farm Girl - wish that Sylvia loved avocado - she hasn't warmed to it but is quite keen to taste things right now so I should try it again - hope the monkeys enjoy it

    Thanks Lisa - I agree

    Thanks Hannah - I love avocado so can't tell you that you will love it if you don't like avocado but I will tell you that it is a great dairy free idea for a creamy pasta sauce and it's green (though see Kari's comment for a recommendation from someone who doesn't love avocado)

    thanks Kari - it is amazingly quick to put together and takes ingredients that are usually about the kitchen - definitely a great stand-by meal

    Thanks vanessa - I have actually seen recipes for roasted avocado but never tried it warm before - quite enjoyed it but was too tired to be overwhelmed

    Thanks Chucky - enjoy

    Thanks Mangocheeks - I loved the creamy and crispy contrast - and the nut roast post is now up

    Thanks Choclette - yes it is very good - not sure how easy avocados are to grow here I remember an avocado plant in a student house hold where I lived after someone threw a stone in the garden but not sure it ever bore fruit

    Thanks Lorraine - always great to have a good recipe for a fast ripening avocado because it hurts to let them go bad

    Thanks Joanne - you should try this as I am sure you would enjoy it, given your love of pasta

    Thanks Kiran - hope you enjoy - and am pleased you are finding inspiration here

    Thanks Rivki - it doesn't seem intuitive but it works

    Thanks Jacqueline - honestly I wasn't being imaginative with the haggis - just too lazy to find anything but what was easy to grab

    ReplyDelete
  16. That is a very nice recipe. My husband loves avocado and I am not very good at finding interesting ways to use it, so I welcome your suggestion.

    ReplyDelete
  17. It looks like a really interesting way to use avocado. I'm never very adventurous with it usually - all my mum ever did with avocado was cut it up into salads or serve it halved, stone removed with vinaigrette dressing in the hole!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Yes, it's such a crazy idea that I'm sure it works! And every time you mention veggie haggis on the blog, I want to try it. Must try it!!

    ReplyDelete
  19. NB I originally posted this comment last Thursday and some comments have disappeared since then but I am leaving my replies here to acknowledge them. (and added replied to responses since then)

    Thanks City Hippy Farm Girl - wish that Sylvia loved avocado - she hasn't warmed to it but is quite keen to taste things right now so I should try it again - hope the monkeys enjoy it

    Thanks Lisa - I agree

    Thanks Hannah - I love avocado so can't tell you that you will love it if you don't like avocado but I will tell you that it is a great dairy free idea for a creamy pasta sauce and it's green (though see Kari's comment for a recommendation from someone who doesn't love avocado)

    thanks Kari - it is amazingly quick to put together and takes ingredients that are usually about the kitchen - definitely a great stand-by meal

    Thanks vanessa - I have actually seen recipes for roasted avocado but never tried it warm before - quite enjoyed it but was too tired to be overwhelmed

    Thanks Chucky - enjoy

    Thanks Mangocheeks - I loved the creamy and crispy contrast - and the nut roast post is now up

    Thanks Choclette - yes it is very good - not sure how easy avocados are to grow here I remember an avocado plant in a student house hold where I lived after someone threw a stone in the garden but not sure it ever bore fruit

    Thanks Lorraine - always great to have a good recipe for a fast ripening avocado because it hurts to let them go bad

    Thanks Joanne - you should try this as I am sure you would enjoy it, given your love of pasta

    Thanks Kiran - hope you enjoy - and am pleased you are finding inspiration here

    Thanks Rivki - it doesn't seem intuitive but it works

    Thanks Jacqueline - honestly I wasn't being imaginative with the haggis - just too lazy to find anything but what was easy to grab

    Thanks Simona - I usually just throw avocado in a salad or guacamole and welcome new ideas too - though I also recommend you try baking with it - it gives a lovely moist texture

    Thanks C - Avocado is so good in salads but I find that I need to time other recipes for when avocado is ripe so I love the simplicity of this idea that is ready when an avocado is

    Thanks Ricki - yes you must try vegie haggis - I will keep mentioning it as E loves it so much so hope that keeps prompting you until the mood strikes

    ReplyDelete
  20. I need to try that veggie haggis!! I love how you put it on nachos. Mmm. I loooove avocados but really don't like how they taste when warm. People seem to really enjoy this avocado pasta dish though so I might have to give it a chance!

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for dropping by. I love hearing from you. Please share your thoughts and questions. Annoyingly the spammers are bombarding me so I have turned on the pesky captcha code (refresh to find an easy one if you don't like the first one)